Psalm 49

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:6

They that trust in their wealth - The first reason why there was no cause of alarm is drawn Psalms 49:6-10 from the “powerlessness” of wealth, as illustrated by the fact that it can do nothing to save life or to prevent death. He refers to those who possess it as “trusting” in their wealth, or “relying on” that as the source of their power.And boast themselves - Pride themselves; or feel conscious of safety and strength because they are rich. It is the “power” which wealth is supposed to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:7

None of them can bid any means redeem his brother - None of those who are rich. This verse might be literally rendered, “a brother cannot by redeeming redeem; a man cannot give to God his own ransom.” The passage, therefore, may mean either, as in our version, that no one, however rich, can redeem a brother - his own brother - by his wealth; or, that a brother - one who sustains the relation of a brother - cannot rescue another from death. On the word “redeem,” see Psalms 25:22, note; Isaiah... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:8

For the redemption of their soul is precious - The word “soul” here means “life,” and not the immortal part. The only question which the psalmist here considers is the value of wealth in preserving “life,” or in saving man from the grave. The phrase, ““their” soul,” refers doubtless to the man and his brother, as alluded to in the previous verse. The idea is that neither can the man of wealth ransom his own life from the grave, nor the life of his brother. Wealth can save neither of them. The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:9

That he should still live for ever - That his brother whom he could not redeem - or that he himself - should not die, Psalms 49:8. The idea is, that the price of life is so great that no wealth can rescue it so that a man shall not die.And not see corruption - Should not return to dust, or moulder away in the grave. See the notes at Psalms 16:10. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:10

For he seeth that wise men die - He must see this; he does see it. He perceives that no one can be saved from death. It comes on all alike - the wise and the unwise. Nothing saves from it. The allusion is here especially to the “rich,” whether “they” are wise or whether they are fools and “brutish.” The simple fact, as stated, is that no matter what may be the character of the man of wealth, whether wise or foolish, he must certainly die His wealth cannot save him from the grave. The possessor... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:11

Their inward thought is - Their secret expectation and feeling is that they have secured permanency for their wealth in their own families, though they themselves may pass away. The essential thought in this verse is, that the rich people referred to in the foregoing verses imagine that their possessions will be perpetuated in their own families. The word rendered “inward thought” - קרב qereb - means properly “the midst, the middle, inner part;” and hence it comes to mean the heart, or the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:12

Nevertheless, man being in honor abideth not - No matter to what rank he may rise, no matter how much wealth he may accumulate, no matter how fixed and secure he may seem to make his possessions, he cannot make them permanent and enduring. He must pass away and leave all this to others. The word rendered “abideth” - ילין yālı̂yn - means properly to pass the night; to remain over night; to lodge, as one does for a night; and the idea is, that he is not to lodge or remain permanently in that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:13

This their way is their folly - This might be rendered, “This is their way or course of life. It is their folly;” or, such is their folly. On the word “way,” see the notes at Psalms 1:6. The idea is, that it is folly for a man to cherish these hopes; to feel that wealth is of so much importance; to imagine that it can deliver from the grave; to suppose that he can perpetuate his own name, and secure his possessions in his own family upon the earth. And yet the world is still full of people as... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:14

Like sheep they are laid in the grave - The allusion here is to a flock as “driven” forward by the shepherd; and the meaning is that they are driven forward to the grave, as it were, in flocks, or as a flock of sheep is driven by a shepherd. The word rendered “are laid” - שׁתוּ śatû - is probably not derived from the verb שׁות śûth, or שׁית śı̂yth, as our translators seem to have supposed, but from שׁתת śâthath, to set, or place; and the meaning is, “Like sheep they put them in Sheol, or... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:15

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave - literally, “from the hand of Sheol;” that is, from the dominion of death. The hand is an emblem of power, and it here means that death or Sheol holds the dominion over all those who are in the grave. The control is absolute and unlimited. The grave or Sheol is here personified as if reigning there, or setting up an empire there. Compare the notes at Isaiah 14:9. On the word “redeem,” see the references in the notes at Psalms 49:7.For he... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 49:15

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